LINCOLN 

as President 



BY 

JNO. W. STARR, Jr. 
Millersburg, Pa. 



f^NJfe. 



Lincoln as President 



AN ORATION 



BY 

JNO. W. STARR, Jr. 

Delivered June 4, 1906, at his graduation from the 
Public Schools of Millersburg, Pa. 



lOO COPIES PRIVATELY PRINTED 
JUNE 1910 



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This is No. / / / of an edition of 100 copies. 

Jno. W. Starr, Jr. 



Gift 

im) 

MAR i!0 1911 



Foreword 

In printing this short oration, I do so chiefly for 
my own gratification. It was written and delivered 
four years ago, when I graduated from our public 
schools. In explanation of the length, I may say 
that each scholar's production was limited to seven 
hundred words. 

Jno. W. Starr, Jr. 



LINCOLN AS PRESIDENT 

^jljYHENEVER in history some great step in the onward 
march of civilization was about to be made, a 
leader from out among the people arose to in- 
spire and guide to success his followers. Napo- 
leon, Washington and Cromwell were such. But where in 
all history do we find one like our great Commoner, Abra- 
ham Lincoln, who proved himself at all times to be ready 
to lend his ear to the grievances of the people, whom he 
represented. He truly was the man for the place and time. 
In his handling of public questions, he was undoubt- 
edly one of the most successful Presidents. In appointing 
his cabinet — composed as it was of the ablest men of his 
own party — he showed a keen appreciation of the situation. 
Four of these men had been his chief competitors for the 
nomination at the Chicago convention in i860. Seward, 
the Premier of his whole administration, was the recog- 
nized leader of his party in New York. Salmon P. Chase, 
by his handling of the government finances during the war, 
proved to be the best man for the position. Montgomery 



LINCOLN AS PRESIDENT 



Blair, Postmaster General, represented the Blair family, 
one of large political influence. The remaining members 
of the cabinet, while not so prominent, were all men of 
ability. Thus at the very outset of his Presidential career 
we find him exercising that wonderful tact for which he 
was noted. 

But never did his statesmanship show to better ad- 
vantage than in the manner in which he handled the Trent 
affair. Only his calm judgment saved the Union from a 
third war with England. After Capt. Wilkes had taken 
the Confederate Commissioners, Mason and Slidell, from 
the English steamship, the whole country rang with ac- 
clamation. But Lincoln clearly saw the result of the reten- 
tion of these prisoners, and by his orders they were freed. 

In considering the emancipation problem, his good 
judgment again asserted itself. From the time of his in- 
auguration, his abolitionist friends demanded that he issue 
an order freeing the slaves, but he saw that the opportune 
time had not yet arrived, and withheld the order. Mean- 
while he made every peaceful effort possible, but seeing the 
futility of such measures, immediately after the battle of 



LINCOLN AS PRESIDENT 



Antietam, in which Lee's advance was checked, he issued 
the preliminary draft Sept. 22, 1862. 

One of Lincoln's sorest trials was his search for a gen- 
eral to command the Union forces. His first selection, 
General McClellan, proving a failure, he tried successively 
Generals Burnside, Hooker and Meade, none of whom 
proved fully competent to meet the responsibility of handl- 
ing such a large force of men as the Army of the Potomac. 
Finally he determined to try a quiet little man by the name 
of Grant, who had been winning victories in the west. 
Lincoln's friends remonstrated, but he now saw that he had 
the right man, and determined to keep him in command. 
To find how Grant fulfilled his expectations, one has only 
to turn to the annals of history, and read his record there. 

One of the most remarkable traits of Lincoln's com- 
posite nature was his ability to use the English language. 
His Gettysburg address has been called the best piece of 
prose ever written on this continent, and one of the best 
ever written in any language. His Cooper Union speech 
and his second Inaugural were both masterpieces. 

His letters also show careful preparation, and stand as 



LINCOLN AS PRESIDENT 



models for state papers. His communications to Horace 
Greely, Governor Hodges, and others, showing his relation 
to slavery, will always remain as good examples of English 
rhetoric. 

As a man of the people, he understood what was due 
to humanity. During the war he was worried nearly to 
death by delegations and others, asking for the pardon of 
prisoners of war, deserters, cowards and the like. The 
Secretary of War and Generals in command were frequently 
much annoyed at being overruled. They thought the dis- 
cipline and efficiency of the service was greatly endangered. 
Though kind-hearted to a fault, he always endeavored to be 
just, and tried to do what was right. 

Thus in summing up his career as President, we may 
say that as a ruler of men he had few equals and no su- 
periors, and as ages come and go it is not improbable that 
his name will stand at the head of the roster of the world's 
great men, and as a leader among men his fame will 
eclipse all others. 



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